-
Family law: Life, litigation and real-world client work
What is it really like to practise family law? In this session, the BPP team will interview a panel of practising family lawyers to explore the realities of working in this challenging and deeply human area of practice. The discussion will cover the nature of the work, the skills required to succeed and the personal qualities that are particularly important when advising clients through significant life events. Students will gain a clearer understanding of the day-to-day experience of family lawyers and the routes into this rewarding specialism.
- Thu, 05 Mar
- 13:30-14:00 GMT
- Digital Campus
A safe haven...
Islamic banking has grown significantly in recent years, particularly since the banking crisis in 2008, and consequently, the area of Islamic Finance Law has too. It is the role of lawyers who operate within this area to ensure that the financial transactions of their clients comply with Shari’a - often termed ‘Shari’a Law’. Shari’a is the body of law derived from the Quran and from secondary religious sources known as the ‘Hadith’. What is unique about Shari’a jurisprudence is that it is not confined to a specific country or state. As it is a body of law drawn from religion, it resides within the individual as religious faith does; a Muslim is expected to abide by Shari’a wherever he or she lives in the world. So, with 1.6 billion Muslims trading and travelling around the world, that’s a lot of potential clients!
What does it involve?
Lawyers must look at transactions from all angles, identify a potential conflict of other laws with Shari’a, and write or rewrite contracts so that they are compliant. They must use their expertise in typical financial transactions and combine it with in-depth knowledge of Islamic financial practice.
What are the skills I need?
The types of law that an Islamic Finance Lawyer uses within their practice are Capital Markets, Commercial, Contract and Civil. You need to have a broad knowledge of commercial law and then specialise in Islamic finance. In terms of qualities, it is especially important to have the ability to think innovatively and laterally. Many of the challenges faced will be new ones. It is also important to be a self-teacher and to have an open mind because moral judgements upon practices that do not align with your own must remain at the side.